Submarine-destroyer.



W. W. GARNER.

SUBMARINE DESTROYER.

APPLICATION FILED MY :1. 1911 1,247,659 0 Patented Nov. 27, 1 917.

glvwewtoz WILLIAM W. GARNER, OF MISSION, TEXAS.

snBMAnINE-nEsTnoYnR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 'I,'WILLIAM W. GARNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mission, in the county of Hidalgo and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Submarine-Destroyer, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is a projectile of the harpoon type, adapted to be dropped from an aeroplane, for the purpose of destroying a submarine or other vessel.

The invention aims to provide a structure of the kind described which will pierce the water readily and maintain an upright position while moving downwardly from the aeroplane to the submarine or other vessel. Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for supporting the stem of the structure out of operative relation to the explosive, the construction being such that when the passage of the device is resisted to the necessary extent, the stem will impinge on the explosive and cause the same to detonate.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details ofconstruction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows in side elevation, a de- 1 vice constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental longitudinal section of the device, on an enlarged scale, parts appearing in elevation; and

vFig. 3 is a cross section taken approximately on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

In carrying outthe present invention there is provided a body 1 of approximately conical form, including a bottom 2 and a top 3, the bottom 2 having an entering point 4. In the bottom portion 2 of the structure there is formed a chamber 5 communicating withan enlarged recess 6 in the bottom 2 to define a shoulder 7. The top 3 has a.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 27, 1917.

Application filed May 11, 1917 Serial No. 168,013.

flange 8 threaded as shown at 9 on the upper end of the bottom 2. The top 3 has a recess 10 communicating with a reduced bore 11 extended through the uppenen'd" of the top 3.

A cartridge 12 is placed in the chamber 5 and includes a removable head 12 having rim 14: supported on the shoulder 7. A ring 15 is placed in the recess 6 and bears on the rib 14: of the cartridge 12. Supported on the ring 15 and on the upper end of the bottom 1 is a frangible diaphragm 16. The invention comprises a stem 17 mounted slidably in the bore 11 and having an enlarged head 18 received in the'reces's 10, the head being supplied with a firing projection 19. The head 18 is supported on the frangible diaphragm 16 when the top 3 is threaded onto the bottom 1 as shown at 9.

When the structure is dropped from an aeroplane, the head 1 enters the water readily, the point 4.-'facilitating the entry of the body. The frangible diaphragm 16 is strong enough so that it will not break when the structure strikes the Water. When, however, the point 4 strikes a relatively unyielding object, such as a submarine, then the diaphragm 16 will break, the stem 17 moving inwardly and the firing projection 19 will strike a cap 20 mounted in the butt of the cartridge 12, the material 21 in the cartridge being exploded, with obvious results.

The head 18 on the stem 17 permits the entire device to be manipulated and handled by means of the stem, without causing the stem to pull out of the top 3. The ring 15 serves to prevent the cartridge 12 from moving upwardly, accidentally, and striking the firing pin 19, thereby producing a premature explosion. The diaphragm 16 exercises a double function in that, in addition to serving as a means for supporting the stem, it constitutes a packing washer between the bottom 2 and the top 3, preventing the entrance of water into the device.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is A projectile of the harpoon type comprising a body having a chamber and an en larged recess defining a shoulder; a cartridge in the chamber; a head for the cartridge including a rim overlying the shoulder; a top threaded upon the body; a frangible diaphragm bound between the top and the upper end of the body; a ring fit "ting in the recess and phragm and the head to hold the cartridge in the chamber, thering being removable rim,'and the head being removable from the by one head. may

independently of the head whereby. one' ring may'besubstituted. for another "to compen'-- satefor variations in thethickness of the cartridgeindependently of the ring where be substituted for another to compensate for variations in the Width 'ofvthe ring; a stem'slidablein thetop and supported by the diaphragm, the stem and q the top being provided W1th interengaging elements preventing a Withdrawal of the throwing the pro jectileand projecting bestem, the stems constituting a means for "yond the rear end of the top a sufiicient Copies 1 this patent ma be obtained for Washing'torLILO/Z engaging the diadistance to give an appreciable added increment' of Weight to v the stem whereby the stem l-w ill be advanced to form" a firin means forfthe cartridge When. the forwa r 7 endof the bodystrikes an obstacle, the projecting portion of the stem being of greater length than the combined lengths or the body 7 and the top, andbeing of a common diameter throughout; V v V In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, Ijhave hereto a'ffixedmy signature in the presenceof two Witnesses.

; WI LIAM WQGARNER.

V Gizo. MAm,

H WRIGHTL fivecents e'a eh, by ayidressing the; (Commissioner of Patents 7 

